What are we made of? How did the universe begin? What secrets do the smallest, most elemental particles of matter hold, and how can they help us understand the intricacies of space and time?

Since 1967, Fermilab has worked to answer these and other fundamental questions and enhance our understanding of everything we see around us. As the United States' premier particle physics laboratory, we work on the world's most advanced particle accelerators and dig down to the smallest building blocks of matter. We also probe the farthest reaches of the universe, seeking out the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Fermilab's 1,750 employees include scientists and engineers from all around the world. Fermilab collaborates with more than 20 countries on physics experiments based in the United States and elsewhere.

For more about who we are and what we do, follow the links below. Contact us at fermilab@fnal.gov or by calling 630-840-3351.

Fermilab's vision and mission

Fermilab is America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory.

Our vision is to solve the mysteries of matter, energy, space and time for the benefit of all. We strive to:

lead the world in neutrino science with particle accelerators

lead the nation in the development of particle colliders and their use for scientific discovery

advance particle physics through measurements of the cosmos

Our mission is to drive discovery by:

building and operating world-leading accelerator and detector facilities

performing pioneering research with national and global partners

developing new technologies for science that support U.S. industrial competitiveness

Quick Info

We've created easy-to-understand fact sheets about every facet of the laboratory, including our research, our economic impact, and our environmental and educational efforts. You can also read online versions of several brochures about the laboratory, its work and its place in the global scientific community. Keep up with Fermilab through our two regular publications: the online-only Fermilab Today and our joint magazine with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, symmetry. To connect with us, please visit our Office of Communication website.

Science

Fermilab has been at the forefront of particle physics for more than 40 years. Here at the laboratory, we build world-leading accelerators and detectors to conduct some of the most advanced particle physics experiments possible. We collect and analyze the data from those experiments with some of the most powerful computers in the world. Delve deeper into Fermilab's scientific work at these links:

History

Fermilab was founded in 1967 near Batavia, Illinois, and has a rich and varied history. Find out more about our story, from our earliest directors to our most important discoveries, and see photographs from every era on our history pages. For 25 years, Fermilab operated the Tevatron, the most powerful particle collider in the world. Learn more about the Tevatron and its legacy.